Dispenser of wire under tension



Oct. 12, 1965 L. F. WHEELER 3,211,189

DISPENSER OF WIRE UNDER TENSION Filed Aug. 6, 1962 INVENTOR. L/O/VEL E WHEELER ATTORNEY United States Patent 3,211,189 DISPENSER 0F WIRE UNDER TENSION Lionel F. Wheeler, St. Petersburg, Fla, assignor to International Resistance Company, Philadelphia, Pa. Filed Aug. 6, 1962, Ser. No. 214,907 2 Claims. (Cl. 140-123) it is necessary to connect a Wire or ribbon between two or more points or taps. Such a connection requires that the wire or ribbon be soldered or welded to the points or taps with the wire or ribbon being under a desired tension so that there is little or no slack in the wire or ribbon. To properly make such connections solely by hand is a diflicult and time consuming operation, particularly when wiring miniaturized electrical components and assemblies, since the operators hands are relatively large as compared with the size of the wire and the component or assembly, and it is difficult to manually hold the wire under the proper tension.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a novel dispenser.

It is another object of the present invention to provide a novel wire or ribbon dispenser.

It is a further object of the present invention to provide a wire or ribbon dispenser for use in the wiring of electrical components and assemblies.

It is a still further object of the present invention to provide a wire or ribbon dispenser which feeds the wire or ribbon under a desired tension.

It is still another object of the present invention to provide a wire or ribbon dispenser which is relatively simple in construction, and which can be used to easily and quickly wire an electrical component or assembly.

Other objects will appear hereinafter.

For the purpose of illustrating the invention there is .shown in the drawings a form which is presently preferred; it being understood, however, that this invention is not limited to the precise arrangements and instrumentalities shown.

FIGURE 1 is a side elevational view of the dispenser of the present invention.

FIGURE 2 is a top elevational view of the dispenser of the present invention.

FIGURE 3 is a sectional view, partially in elevation,

taken along line 3-3 of FIGURE 2.

FIGURE 4 is a sectional view taken along line 44 of FIGURE 3.

Referring to the drawings, the dispenser of the present invention is generally designated as 10.

Dispenser 10 comprises an elongated, cylindrical tube 12 which is externally threaded at each end as shown in FIGURE 3. A cylindrical tip 14 is secured to the front end of the tube 12. The central portion of the tip 14 is of a diameter slightly greater than the internal diameter of the tube 12. The front end portion 16 of the tip 14 is tapered to substantially a point. The back end portion 18 of the tip 14 is of a diameter substantially equal to the internal diameter of the tube 12 so that the back end portion 18 fits within the tube 12 with a press fit to secure the tip 14 to the tube 12. The tapered front end portion 16 of the tip 14 is provided with a slot 20 extending diametrically thereacross to divide the front end portion 16 into a pair of spaced lips 16a and 16b. A small hole 22 extends from the center of the back end of the tip 14 longitudinally through the tip to the slot 20. A countersink 24 is provided at the back end of the hole 22.

A collet sleeve 26 is mounted on the front end of the tube 12 and around the tip 14. Collet sleeve 26 comprises an internally threaded, cylindrical portion 28, and a conical portion 30 projecting forwardly from the cylindrical portion 28. The free end of the conical portion 30 has a pair of diametrically opposite slits 32 therethrough. The angle of taper of the conical portion 30 is equal to or slightly greater than the angle of taper of the tapered front end portion 16 of the tip 14. Thus, when the collet sleeve 26 is threaded onto the front end of the tube 12, the inner surface of the conical portion 30 of the collet sleeve 26 will engage the surface of the front end portion 16 of the tip 14. Once the conical portion 30 of the collet sleeve 26 engages the front end portion 16 of the tip 14, further threading of the collet sleeve onto the tube 12 applies a radially inwardly pressure on the front end portion 16 of the tip so as to move the free ends of the lips 16a and 16b toward each other. Thus, the distance between the free ends of the lips 16a and 16b of the tip 14 can be adjusted by means of the collet sleeve 26.

A substantially rectangular, flat plate 34 is mounted on the back end of the tube 12, and projects longitudinally therefrom. A flange 36 extends upwardly from the front end of the plate 34. Flange 36 has a threaded, circular hole 38 in its front surface into which the back end of the tube 12 is threaded to mount. the plate 34 on the tube 12. As shown in FIGURE 3, a passage 40 extends through the flange 36 from the bottom of the hole 33 to the back surface of the flange. The back end of the passage 40 is provided with a countersink 42. The passage 40 is positioned so that its center is on the longitudinal axis of the tube 12. As shown in FIGURE 4, the passage 40 is oblong with the major axis of the passage 40 being parallel to the top surface of the plate 34. Plate 34 is provided with a threaded hole 44 therethrough adjacent the back end thereof. Hole 44 is positioned so that its longitudinal axis crosses the longitudinal axis of the tube 12. A stud 46, which is threaded at both ends, has one end threaded into the hole 44 in the plate 34. As shown in FIGURE 2, a pair of guide lines 48 are cut or engraved in the top surface of the plate 34. Guide lines 48 extend from a point juxtaposed to the back surface of the flange 36 directly under the center of the passage 40, and diverge at an angle of approximately 30.

A magazine reel, generally designated as 50, is mounted on the plate 34, and is rotatable about the stud 46. Magazine reel 50 comprises a fiat, circular bottom plate 52 having a central upstanding boss 54 thereon. A second boss 56 extends upwardly from the center of the boss 54, and is of a diameter less than that of the boss 54. A hole 58, slightly larger in diameter than the diameter of the stud 46, extends through the center of the plate 52 and the bosses 54 and 56. A circular top plate 60 has a central hole 62 therethrough of a diameter equal to the outer diameter of the boss 56 on the bottom plate 52,

=9 and a cylindrical rim 64 projects upwardly from the outer periphery of the top plate 60. The top plate 6%) is seated on the top surface of the boss 54 of the bottom plate 52 with the boss 56 of the bottom plate fitting tightly within the hole 62 in the top plate. Magazine reel 50 is mounted on the top surface of the plate 34 with the stud 46 extending through the hole 58 in the bottom plate 52 of the magazine reel.

A bearing washer 66 is provided around the stud 46 between the top surface of the plate 34 and the bottom plate 52 of the magazine reel 50. A second bearing washer 68 is provided around the stud 46, and is seated on the top surface of the top plate 60 of the magazine reel 55). A helical spring 70 is mounted around the stud 46, and is seated on the bearing washer 68. A thrust washer 72 is mounted around the stud 46, and is seated on the top of the spring 70. A nut 74 is threaded on the top end of the stud 46, and engages the thrust washer 72 to compress the spring 70 between the thrust washer 72 and the bearing wasrer 68. The force of the spring 70 on the magazine reel 50 controls the permissible speed of rotation of the magazine reel.

To use the dispenser 10 of the present invention, a wire or ribbon is wound on the magazine reel 50. The wire or ribbon is wound around the boss 54 on the bottom plate 52 in the space between the bottom plate 52 and the top plate 60. The free end of the Wire or ribbon is then fed through the passage 40 in the flange 36, through the tube 12, through the hole 22 in the tip 14, and then between the lips 1601 and 16b of the tip until the wire or ribbon projects slightly beyond the front end of the tip. Prior to feeding the wire or ribbon through the tip 14, the collet sleeve 26 is unthreaded from the tube 12 a distance sufiicient to allow the greatest spacing between the lips 16a and 16b of the tip. After the wire or ribbon has been fed through the tip 14, the collet sleeve 26 is threaded back onto the tube 12 until the lips 16a and 16b are pressed together against the wire or ribbon to obtain the desired tension on the wire or ribbon. To obtain the desired tension on the wire or ribbon, a force is applied to the end of the wire or ribbon by means of either a weight or scale, and the collet sleeve 26 is threaded onto the tube 12 until the lips 16a and 16b of the tip 14 apply a sufficient force on the wire or ribbon to prevent movement of the wire or ribbon under the force applied thereto.

After the dispenser 10 of the present invention has been properly loaded with the wire or ribbon, it is used to wire an electrical component or assembly by placing the projecting end of the wire or ribbon over the first point or tap of the electrical component, and securing the end of the wire to the point or tap by soldering, welding, or the like. The dispenser 10 is then firmly pulled away from the first connection point or tap toward the second connection point or tap. As the dispenser 10 is pulled toward the second connection point or tap, the wire or ribbon is unwound from the magazine reel 50, and is fed from the dispenser 10 under the desired tension. After the wire or ribbon has been connected to all of the connecting points or taps so as to completely wire the electrical component or assembly, the wire or ribbon is cut leaving a short length of the wire or ribbon projecting from the tip 14 of the dispenser 10. When the wire or ribbon is cut, the force applied to the wire or ribbon by the lips 16a and 16b of the tip 14 prevents the wire or ribbon from rebounding into the tube 12. Thus, the dispenser 10 of the present invention permits the wire or ribbon to be easily and quickly fed between the various connecting points or taps of the electrical component under tension, and firmly holds the wire or ribbon at each of the connecting points or taps for ease of connecting the wire or ribbon to the connecting points or taps. The preferred size of the dispenser 10 of the present invention is approximately six inches in length, and inch in diameter. Thus, the dispenser 10 can be easily held in the hand of the user in the manner of a pencil.

The dispenser 10 of the present invention not only provides for feeding the wire or ribbon between the various connecting points or taps of an electrical component or assembly, but also tests each of the connections between the Wire or ribbon and the connecting points or taps of the electrical component after the connections are made. As previously stated, the force of the lips 16a and 16b of the tip 14 on the wire or ribbon requires a predeterrnined force to be applied to the wire or ribbon to cause the wire or ribbon to be pulled from the dispenser It When the wire or ribbon is connected to a connecting point or tap of the electrical component, and the dispenser 10 is pulled toward the next connecting point or tap, the force necessary to pull the wire or ribbon from the dispenser 10 is applied to the previously made connection. If the previously made connection is bad, this force will cause the connection to break. Thus, with the use of the dispenser 10 of the present invention to wire an electrical component or assembly, each of the connections between the wire or ribbon and the connecting points or taps of the electrical component is automatically tested for strength.

The oblong shape of the opening 40 in the flange 36 permits the wire or ribbon to pass from the magazine reel 50 into the tube 12 without a sharp bend so as to minimize the chances of breaking the wire or ribbon. The guide lines 48 on the plate 34 are angled so that they are tangential to the outer periphery of the boss 54 on the bottom plate 52 of the magazine reel 50. As the Wire or ribbon is unwound from the magazine reel 50, the portion of the wire or ribbon between the magazine reel and the flange 36 moves closer to being directly over one of the guide lines 48. When the magazine reel 50 is empty, the wire or ribbon is directly over one of the guide lines 48. Thus, the guide lines 48 function to indicate when the magazine reel 50 needs refilling. To refill the magazine reel 50, it is only necessary to secure the end of a new wire to the end of the wire projecting from the tip 14 of the dispenser 10, loosen the collet sleeve 26, and then rotate the magazine reel 50 to wind the wire or ribbon onto the magazine reel. When refilling the magazine reel 50, it is desirable to provide a slight pressure of the lips 16a and 16b of the tip 14 on the wire or ribbon to achieve a uniform winding of the wire or ribbon around the magazine reel. Thus, the magazine reel 56 can be refilled without the need of feeding the wire or ribbon through the tube 12.

The present invention may be embodied in other specific forms without departing from the spirit or essential attributes thereof and, accordingly, reference should be made to the appended claims, rather than to the foregoing specification as indicating the scope of the invention.

I claim:

1. A wire dispenser comprising an elongated hollow tube, a flat plate projecting longitudinally from the back end of said tube, a flange projecting upwardly from the front end of said plate, said flange being secured to the back end of said tube, an opening through said flange in alignment with the longitudinal axis of the tube, a spindle secured to the top surface of said plate and projecting upwardly therefrom, a wire magazine reel rotatably mounted on said spindle, a tip secured to the front end of the tube, said tip having a conical free end, a transverse slit extending across the conical end to provide a pair of lips, a hole extending longitudinally through the center of the tip from the tube to the slit, a collet sleeve threaded on the front end of the tube and having a conical free end which engages the conical end of the tip, said sleeve being adapted to vary the spacing between the lips of the tip to permit various sizes of wire to pass through the tip and to permit the force applied to the wire by the lips to be varied, and a pair of guide lines on the top surface of the plate, said guide lines extending toward the magazine reel from a point adjacent the flange and directly under the center of the opening in the flanges and diverging at an angle so as to be tangential to the surface of 903,818 11/08 Herth 140-123 the magazine reel around which the wire is wound. 1,049,361 1/ 13 Holmes 140-123 2. A wire dispenser in accordance with claim 1 in 2,239,222 4/41 Funke 33-128 which the opening in the flange is oblong with the major 2,474,463 6/49 Burrell 140-123 axis of the opening being parallel to the top surface of 5 2,682,063 6/51 Miloche 140-123 the Plate' OTHER REFERENCES References Cited by the Examiner Koster, John 1.: Tension Chuck Improves Coil Winder UNITED STATES PATENTS Rigidity, American Machinist, March 13, 1947, page 148. 205,797 7/78 Haviland 120-21 10 437,413 9/90 Eckerson 140-147 CHARLES W. LANHAM, Primary Examiner. 

1. A WIRE DISPENSER COMPRISING AN ELONGATED HOLLOW TUBE, A FLAT PLATE PROJECTING LONGITUDINALLY FROM THE BACK END OF SAID TUBE, A FLANGE PROJECTING UPWARDLY FROM THE FRONT END OF SAID PLATE, SAID FLANGE BEING SECURED TO THE BACK END OF SAID TUBE, AND OPENING THROUGH SAID FLANGE IN ALIGNMENT WITH THE LONGITUDINAL AXIS OF THE TUBE, A SPINDLE SECURED TO THE TOP SURFACE OF SAID PLATE AND PROJECTING UPWARDLY THEREFROM, A WIRE MAGAZINE REEL ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON SAID SPINDLE, A TIP SECURED TO THE FRONT END OF THE TUBE, SAID TIP HAVING A CONICAL FREE END, A TRANSVERSE SLIT EXTENDING ACROSS THE CONICAL END TO PROVIDE A PAIR OF LIPS, A HOLE EXTENDING LONGITUDINALLY THROUGH THE CENTER OF THE TIP FROM THE TUBE TO THE SLIT, A COLLET SLEEVE THREADED ON THE FRONT END OF THE TUBE AND HAVING A CONICAL FREE END WHICH ENGAGES THE CONICAL END OF TIP, SAID SLEEVE BEING ADAPTED TO VARY THE SPACING BETWEEN THE LIPS OF THE TIP TO PERMIT VARIOUS SIZES OF WIRE TO PASS THROUGH THE TIP AND TO PERMIT THE FORCE APPLIED TO THE WIRE BY THE LIPS TO BE VARIED, AND A PAIR OF GUIDE LINES ON THE TOP SURFACE OF THE PLATE, SAID GUIDE LINES EXTENDING TOWARD THE MAGAZINE REEL FROM A POINT ADJACENT THE FLANGE AND DIRECTLY UNDER THE CENTER OF THE OPENING IN THE FLANGES AND DIVERGING AT AN ANGLE SO AS TO BE TANGENTIAL TO THE SURFACE OF THE MAGAZINE REEL AROUND WHICH THE WIRE IS WOUND. 